Presented in cooperation with Glessner House & the Park District of Oak Park

Geothermal energy is the thermal energy in the Earth’s crust which can be harnessed for heating and cooling purposes. This green technology eliminates the dependence on fossil fuels and is an efficient way to provide optimum temperature and humidity conditions in historic buildings.

This program will be led by Mark Nussbaum of Architectural Consulting Engineers, who is currently overseeing the installation of geothermal systems in two National Historic Landmark buildings in the Chicago area: Pleasant Home, and Glessner House. The project at Chicago’s Glessner House (1887, H. H. Richardson, architect) is being undertaken with a generous Sustaining Cultural Heritage Grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Installation of the system at Pleasant Home in Oak Park (1897, George W. Maher, architect) represents a collaboration between the Park District of Oak Park and the Pleasant Home Foundation, and is funded through the Park District’s Capital Budget and a large Museum Grant from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.

During the presentation, Nussbaum and others involved in the projects will discuss how a geothermal system operates, the basic components including wells dug hundreds of feet deep, and how each building provided unique challenges in retrofitting the system to its specific architectural design.

The program will be recorded, and all attendees will receive a link afterwards which will remain active for seven days.

$10 per person / $8 for members

Tour Pleasant Home when it's at its most magnificent - decorated for the holiday season! Light refreshments will be served as you're treated to a guided tour by our wonderful team of docents.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors!
Starship Restaurant & Catering
Westgate Flower & Plant Shop

Thank you to our Supporting Sponsors!
John A Biek & Christina Norton
John & Jill Dortch
Ron Weslow
Mack & Raeann Spencer
Integra Realty Resources – Chicago (Jim Kutill)

Join us at Pleasant Home for a holiday concert featuring singer-songwriter Father Connor Danstrom! To enjoy drinks and light hors d'oeuvres at this event, just select the $20 option!

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors!
Starship Restaurant & Catering
Westgate Flower & Plant Shop

Thank you to our Supporting Sponsors!
John A Biek & Christina Norton
John & Jill Dortch
Ron Weslow
Mack & Raeann Spencer
Integra Realty Resources – Chicago (Jim Kutill)

Guests of all ages are invited to this unique event at Historic Pleasant Home. Members of the Musical Box Society & Chicago AMICA will share their extraordinary collections of cart organs, tabletop organs, music boxes, phonographs, automata, singing birds and more. Families can spend the afternoon strolling through the park or the first floor of Pleasant Home while enjoying the mechanical sounds of a bygone era. Open to the Public, $5 suggested donation.

Join us on Friday, August 13 for a Silent Movie on the Porch - featuring live musical accompaniment by Thomas Holmes. Seating will be provided on the porch, or you can bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the movies from our lawn!

Admission is $10 per adult, $20 per family. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Movies:

• Take A Chance: Harold Lloyd (10 min)

• The Floorwalker: Charlie Chaplin (25 min)

• Sunnyside: Charlie Chaplin (25 min)

Join us on Friday, August 6 for a Silent Movie on the Porch - featuring live musical accompaniment by Thomas Holmes.

Admission is $10 per adult, $20 per family. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Movies:

• Take A Chance: Harold Lloyd (10 min)

• The Floorwalker: Charlie Chaplin (25 min)

• Sunnyside: Charlie Chaplin (25 min)

Co-sponsored event with Glessner House - $10 general and $8 member

This event will be hosted via Zoom. Tickets and additional information can be found here.

Co-sponsored event with Glessner House - $10 general and $8 member

This event will be hosted via Zoom. Tickets and additional information can be found here.